TAFT'S BUDGET

TAFT'S BUDGET An overview Gov. Bob Taft's recommended general revenue fund appropriations of $24.1 billion in fiscal year 2004 and $25.1 billion in fiscal year 2005. Some of the budget's big items: Medicaid, the state/federal health insurance program for the poor and disabled, is proposed to have funding of $8.8 billion in the budget's first year and $9.3 billion in the second year. Primary and secondary education is proposed to have funding of $6.6 billion in the first year and $6.9 billion in the second year. Higher education is proposed to have funding of $2.6 billion by the second year. Other health and human services programs, including Department of Mental Health and Department of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, are proposed to have funding of $2 billion in the first year and $2.1 billion in the second year. Source: Office of Budget and Management